It’s clear now, but when it was happening it was unknown exactly how the Los Angeles Rams were approaching the latest NFL Draft. The Rams didn’t exactly need to address cornerback or special teams through the draft, as they opted to try and address those moves through free agency.
Will the strategy work? Tune into this NFL season to find out.
The Rams had a chance to add a player in the draft who could’ve helped in 2026, even in a limted role, insteady they chose a player in Ty Simpson who they hope
doesn’t take the field in 2026.
I think I’ve written these next two words more than once over the last week in relation to the Rams choosing Simpson at pick 13: It’s fascinating.
Is it logical? it is illogical? I do not know, but it’s fascinating.
Thank you for checking out Turf Show Times, happy Friday! Hope it’s a good one.
Why Jaylen Watson was the Rams’ key signing of the offseason (ramswire)
“However, what will make Watson great in 2026 isn’t the scheme or his teammates. It’s timing. The only way to beat Shula’s scheme, unless you have a generational running back, is to attack the underneath early with the pass, to then force Shula into having a single-high safety. Whichever safety drops, whether it’s Kam Curl or Kam Kinchens, they would often have to be reactionary, messing up the timing of their attack. There were fears that the outside would get beaten to the punch for receivers coming inside, allowing a seam for players to advance the ball upfield.”
Why the Rams Passed on Makai Lemon, Kenyon Sadiq in Order to Draft Ty Simpson (si.com)
“Could Sadiq or Lemon have been valuable depth pieces? Certainly, Lemon in particular, who could be a valuable addition to the wide receiver room, especially with Davante Adams having dealt with hamstring injuries last season. Simpson, however, has the potential to be an invaluable piece of Los Angeles’s football, and it’s hard to imagine that the Rams would’ve been picking early enough in the draft in any of the next few seasons to grab one of the top quarterbacks in the class of 2027 or ’28. Getting Simpson now addresses the quarterback position for the long haul, and secures a talent the Rams may not have had the chance to draft down the line.”
Why the Rams see Simpson as Stafford’s heir apparent (espn.com)
“In Simpson, the Rams noticed “his intelligence” and watched him play in the pro-style system that Alabama uses.
“He makes a lot of pro-style throws, and it was very easy to see the translation,” Blake said.
Although Simpson made only 15 college starts after sitting behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe, the Rams thought he was the right player to draft as the likely successor to Matthew Stafford. Los Angeles selected Simpson with the No. 13 pick in last weekend’s NFL draft.
Those 15 career starts are the fourth fewest by any first-round quarterback over the past 25 years, according to ESPN Research. Only Anthony Richardson Sr. (13), Mitchell Trubisky (13) and Dwayne Haskins (14) had fewer.“
